Devo 6 software upgrade

[Finless]

I have reported to Walkera that the Devo 6 is killing my batteries while powered off. I will escalate to them again about it. I had a very nice 2 cell lipo in mine that puffed because it got fully drained sitting for a week.

Bottom line unplug your pack if your going to let the radio sit for many days.

Bob

[DocD]

Wow I wonder what is going on there, the 12 is fine and it also has clock and calender function which is battery backed a separate little battery which if there was that amount of power drain when off would have been totally screwed by now.

wonder if anybody is seeing same problem with devo 8 ?

Regards David

[Jazzjohn]

Originally Posted by bytemuncher

Interesting. Why does it need that 4 mA power draw while powered off?

The power switch doesn't actually break the circuit between the battery pack and the circuitry like a flashlight's power switch does. Instead, the switch tells the processor to go into a low power state. A processor in a low power state typically consumes only microamps unless the circuitry or software is placing more of a load on the battery. Usually this is a result of a design oversight.

[Toumal]

Hey guys,

The Devo6 power drain is a design error by Walkera. There's various fixes circulating around but most of them involve SMD soldering. If you want to save yourself that trouble, here's a fix that only needs a fine solder iron and a cutter.

All you need to do is cut two traces on the PCB:




Then just take a piece of wire and solder it to the PCB like so:





Full article here: http://fpvcentral.net/?p=284

I'm now down to nothing, 0.6 uA or less. If you have a Devo6 I can really recommend this fix. That, along with the free telemetry upgrade via software update, makes that little transmitter just that much more awesome ^_^

[Intheway]

I've had the screws out of my Devo-6 for a long time. The rubber side grips are really all that is needed to keep it together unless you throw it at something. I've been hoping someone would figure this one out. Now I don't have to leave the charger plugged in all the time.

Thanks for the post!

[Gryffandor]

Does anyone know if this same problem exists with the new Devo 6S?

[bytemuncher]

Walkera told me it is fixed in the devo 6s.

Also, benmlee has another write up for fixing the 6 here http://benmlee.com/DEVO_6_Battery_Drain_Fix.htm

[Peteair]

My devo 8s doesn't seem to have power drain when turned off. I have rechargeable eneloops in there for 2 weeks now and it is still at half power just like when I used it last.

Seems like they did fix the problem and should be safe for lipos now.

[Jazzjohn]

Originally Posted by bytemuncher

Walkera told me it is fixed in the devo 6s.

Also, benmlee has another write up for fixing the 6 here http://benmlee.com/DEVO_6_Battery_Drain_Fix.htm

Benmlee's fix would be harder to implement since it requires desoldering a surface mount diode and resoldering one end of it to a wire. The fix posted by Toumal is easier.

[bytemuncher]

Originally Posted by Jazzjohn

Benmlee's fix would be harder to implement since it requires desoldering a surface mount diode and resoldering one end of it to a wire. The fix posted by Toumal is easier.

I agree, just want to spread the info. Also, if people need help with measuring the voltage (and have a voltmeter/multimeter) you can check benmlee's post for how he did it http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...3#post20924455

[Jazzjohn]

Originally Posted by bytemuncher

I agree, just want to spread the info. Also, if people need help with measuring the voltage (and have a voltmeter/multimeter) you can check benmlee's post for how he did it http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...3#post20924455

Yes, good point. He also does a nice job of showing how to open up the transmitter. That could be frustrating if you don't know where the screws are hidden.

[Toumal]

Heh, Ben and I are actually doing the exact same thing. Dunno why he desolders the diode but eh, whatever works is fine

[Sicilian0]

i have several questions..

A) do i need the dongle to update the devo 6?
b) where it the file to update the devo 6 as, i went to the devention.com but the page is black and none of the tabs work...
c)

thanks!

[oxide1]

Originally Posted by Sicilian0

i have several questions..

A) do i need the dongle to update the devo 6?
b) where it the file to update the devo 6 as, i went to the devention.com but the page is black and none of the tabs work...
c)

thanks!

hey Sicilian! you need the usb to micro usb cable that plug into the right hand side of your devo 6...

once you've done that... go here..http://www.walkera.com/diywken/?la=en .. register, login, download the updater program and the devo 6 update....
extract both and install the program...

plug the cable into your devo 6 and usb slot with the power OFF... hold the ext button and then power on.. your devo 6 will display a update screen... the drivers so your pc will recognize your devo 6 are in the update program folder...

then open up the update program and it's pretty easy from there.... Finless Bob did a awesome video on it if you still have issues... have fun!